ScratchJr

For kids aged 5-7, ScratchJr offers a fun and engaging way to dive into the world of programming. By dragging colorful blocks, young children can create programs and make characters come to life with movements, jumps, dances, and songs. With ScratchJr, children can also customize characters using the paint editor, add their voices and sounds, and even include photos of themselves. This allows them to craft their own interactive stories and games, sparking their creativity and imagination.

ScratchJr draws inspiration from the widely-used Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), which is popular among older kids (ages 8 and up). However, ScratchJr has been specifically designed to be developmentally appropriate for younger children. The interface and programming language have been carefully tailored to align with the cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development of young learners.

We believe that coding is a new form of literacy, much like writing. Just as writing helps organize thoughts and express ideas, coding does the same. In the past, coding was often considered too complex for the general public. But we think everyone should have the opportunity to code, just as everyone should be able to write.

When young children engage with ScratchJr, they're not just using a computer; they're learning to create and express themselves through it. This process helps them develop problem-solving skills, design projects, and understand sequencing, which are essential for their future academic success. Additionally, ScratchJr integrates math and language in a way that's both meaningful and motivating, supporting early childhood numeracy and literacy. Through ScratchJr, children don't just learn to code; they code to learn.

ScratchJr is the result of a collaboration between the Developmental Technologies group at Tufts University, the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, and the Playful Invention Company. The Android version was implemented by Two Sigma, with graphics and illustrations crafted by HvingtQuatre Company and Sarah Thomson.

If you enjoy using this free app, consider making a donation to the Scratch Foundation (http://www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit that supports ScratchJr. Every donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated.

This version of ScratchJr is compatible only with tablets that are 7 inches or larger and run Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) or higher.

Terms of Use: http://www.scratchjr.org/eula.html

What's New in the Latest Version 1.5.11

Last updated on Nov 28, 2023

Minor bug fixes and improvements. Install or update to the newest version to check it out!